Alcott, Louisa May - SSC 11 Read Online Free PDF Page B

tired feet,
preferring the deserted parlor to the noisy dining-room,—not being quite sure
where she belonged now.
                            
Mr. Vane brought her a salver full of the dainties girls best love, and drawing
up a table began to eat and talk in such a simple, comfortable way that Jessie
could not feel shy, but was soon quite at her ease. She knew that he was a
famous artist, and longed to tell him about poor Laura, who admired his pictures so much and would have enjoyed every moment of
this chance interview. He was not a very young man, nor a handsome one, but he
had a genial face, and the friendly manners which are so charming; and in ten
minutes Jessie was chatting freely, quite unconscious that the artist was
studying her in a mirror all the while. They naturally talked of the children,
and after praising the pretty dance Mr. Vane quietly added,—
                            
"I've been trying—to find a face among them for a picture I'm doing; but
the little dears are all too young, and I must look elsewhere for a model for
my wood-nymph."
                            
"Are models hard to find?" asked Jessie, eating her ice with the
relish of a girl who does not often taste it.
                            
"What I want is very hard to find. I can get plenty of beggar-girls, but
this must be a refined face, young and blooming, but with poetry in it; and
that does not come without a different training from any my usual models get.
It will be difficult to suit me, for I'm in a hurry and don't know where to
look,"—which last sentence was not quite true, for the long glass showed
him exactly what he wanted.
                            
"I help Mademoiselle with her classes, and she has pupils of all ages;
perhaps you could find some one there."
                            
Jessie looked so interested that the artist felt that he had begun well, and
ventured a step further as he passed the cake-basket for the third time.
                            
"You are very kind; but the trouble there is, that I fear none of the
young ladies would consent to sit to me if I dared to ask them. I will confide
to you that I HAVE seen a head which quite suits me; but I fear I cannot get
it. Give me your advice, please. Should you think this pretty creature would be
offended, if I made the request most respectfully?"
                            
"No, indeed; I should think she would be proud to help with one of your
pictures, sir. My sister thinks they are very lovely; and we kept one of them
when we had to sell all the rest," said Jessie, in her eager, frank way.
                            
"That was a beautiful compliment, and I am proud of it. Please tell her
so, with my thanks. Which was it?"
                            
"The woman's head,—the sad, sweet one people call a Madonna. We call it
Mother, and love it very much, for Laura says it is like our mother. I never
saw her, but my sister remembers the dear face very well."
                            
Jessie's eyes dropped, as if tears were near; and Mr. Vane said, in a voice
which showed he understood and shared her feeling,—
                            
"I am very glad that anything of mine has been a comfort to you. I thought
of my own mother when I painted that picture years ago; so you see you read it
truly, and gave it the right name. Now, about the other head; you think I may
venture to propose the idea to its owner, do you?"
                             "Why not, sir? She would be very silly to refuse,
I think."
                            
"Then YOU wouldn't be offended if asked to sit in this way?"
                             "Oh, no. I've sat for Laura many a time, and